Express Your Art 1st Round Finalists Announced!

Last July 22, Thunderbird Resorts announced the 1st round finalists of its Express Your Art Photo Contest III: “Experience Fiesta”.

Now on its third year, the contest boasts of the largest cash prize ever to be given by a local photo contest in the Philippines—PhP 250,000 for the grand prize. Finalists will also receive P5,000 consolation prize. Prizes will be awarded on January 28, 2012 at the Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation (FPPF) Photographer’s Night at the Asian Institute of Management.

Finalists are (in alphabetical order): Manuel P. Andres Jr, Catherine Michelle T. Aragoncillo, Achilles Aeson Anthony T. Baldevia, Raniel Jose Madrazo Castañeda, Ramon I. Castillo, Catalino Celzo Jr, Loreta De Vera, Joel C. Forte, Israel V. Gonzalez, Vincent L. Kho, Rodolfo C. Manabat, Nicanor P. Olayao, Teodoro L. Pelaez, John Paul E. Relativo, Manuel P. Rosario, Meljoe A. San Diego, Jaime S. Singlador, Anselmo V. Talagtag Jr, Paulino A. Tamayo II, Elvira A. Tankiamco, Jun R. Tulao, Ruwen T. Verdaguer, Rodolfo L. Vicente, and Danilo O. Victoriano Jr.

For this year, the Express Your Art (EYA) Photo Contest is looking for images that capture essence of major holidays and festivities in the Philippines.

Interested participants and first round finalists may still submit their entries for the 2nd round on or before December 9, 2011. Mechanics and registration forms can be downloaded from www.thunderbird-asia.com.

The 2nd round finalists will be announced on December 16, 2011, while the grand prize winner will be announced on December 23, 2011.

Official partners for the Thunderbird Resorts Express Your Art Photo Contest are the Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation (FPPF) and Western Digital.

Per DTI-NCR Permit No. 1957, Series of 2011

Thunderbird Resorts Awards Photo Contest Winners

In photo: FPPF Chairperson Edi Huang (front row, second from left)

poses with PhotoWorld participants

On the night of January 29, Greenbelt 3 Ground Lobby was filled with camera-clad enthusiasts who all came for one special Photographer's Night.

This was made possible by Thunderbird Resorts, in partnership with Caltex, Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation Inc. Sponsors include Western Digital, Digital Photographer Philippines, iSTYLEs, Image Works Inc., and Intel.

Highlighting the event was the awarding of the Second Annual Express Your Art Photo Contest. To seek inspirational photos that would renew the environmental spirit, this year's theme is "Go Green".

“We wanted photos that would capture people’s day-to-day efforts towards conserving the environment,” said Fabio Moretti, Thunderbird Resorts Country Manager. “More importantly, we want people to look at these photos and gain a stronger sense of custodianship over our planet.”

(L-R) Grand Prize winner Imee Antonio holds the check up high

with iStyle's Michelle Aglibar, Huang and Thunderbird Resorts' Fabio Moretti

Grand Prize winner Imee Antonio, who garnered the highest average among the entries, won the PhP 250,000 cash prize for her photo depicting two women creating bags out of recycled materials.

Photo by Imee Antonio

On her win, Imee shares, "My inspiration during the shoot was of course to win the contest, by having a photo entry that will depict the contest objective. I'm very happy that our camera club members were very creative and helpful that we have arrived to a winning photo entry."

As for the cash prize, she adds, "Some part of it of course will go directly to my savings account, some will be given to the camera club fund and some will be shared to my co-members who helped me during the shoot."

Category winners Dewey Sergio (Awareness), Ernie Penaredondo (Balance), and Jordan Madjus (Commitment) captured equally captivating photos and won P50,000 each. Awarding them were Michelle Aglibar, IStyles/Intel; Fabio Moretti, Country Manager of Thunderbird Resorts; Eduviges Huang, Chairperson of Federation of Philipppine Photographers Foundation Inc.

Awareness Category Winner Dewey Sergio (middle)

Balance Category Winner Ernie Penaredondo (second from right)

Commitment Category Winner Jordan Madjus (second from right)

Shaun Thomsen, Chief Gaming Officer of Thunderbird Resorts and Betty Lalana, Chairperson of PhotoWorld 2011 awarded the ten consolation prize winners.

Thomsen and Lalana with Consolation Prize Winner Jaime Singlador

Consolation Prize Winner Reynaldo Mondez, Jr.

Judges were commercial photographer and Ad Congress awardee Francis Rivera, underwater photographer and Green Peace advocate Gutsy Tuazon, surfing lifestyle photographer Mark Dimalanta, former Business Development & Channel Manager of Kodak Philippines Edwin Hermoso, and project lead for Thunderbird Resorts' Efforts on Environment Sustainability Elaine Santillan.

Also present at the event were PhotoWorld guest speakers Julieanne Kost (Adobe Digital Imaging Evangelist) and fashion photographer Hanson Fong, as well as former PhotoWorld chairperson Manny Innumerable and Ad Photo’s John Chua.

Congratulations to all the winners and to everyone who made the Thunderbird Resorts Express Your Art Photo Contest a big success!

Visit here to see the full gallery of the Express Your Art Go Green Photo Contest Winners.

Express Your Art Photo Contest Exhibit Opens in Greenbelt

The Thunderbird Resorts Express Your Art (EYA) Photo Contest Exhibit commenced yesterday, January 27, at the Greenbelt 3 Lobby.

Mr. Angel Sueiro gives his opening remarks

Angel Sueiro, Andy Kuo, Hanson Fong, Julieanne Kost, and Francis Rivera

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was led by Angel Sueiro, and joining him were Andy Kuo (Western Digital Sales Director for South East Asia), PhotoWorld 2011 speakers Hanson Fong (premier US portrait & wedding photographer) and Julieanne Kost (Adobe Digital Imaging Evangelist), and Francis Rivera (Member of Board of Directors, Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation or FPPF).

Also present at the event were Thunderbird Resorts Vice President for Asia & European Operations Raul Sueiro, FPPF Chairperson Eduviges Huang, PhotoWorld 2011 Chairperson Betty Lalana, and EYA judge Edwin Hermoso.

Nino Carandang of Western Digital emceed the program.

The winning entries will be on display at the Greenbelt 3 main lobby in Makati until January 30, 2011. The awarding will then be held during the PhotoWorld Photographer’s Night on January 29, 2011 at the same venue.

Thunderbird Resorts concludes environment-themed photo contest

Grand Prize winning photo by Imee Antonio

When typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng swept through the country in 2009 and displaced thousands of families, Thunderbird Resorts, who had properties in Poro Point, La Union and Binangonan, Rizal, quickly sent out relief efforts and medical missions to assist nearby communities.

The devastating typhoons, which have been touted as manifestations of climate change, prompted the international recreational property developer to strengthen its commitment towards promoting environmental awareness.

Thus, when Thunderbird Resorts held its second annual Express Your Art photo contest, the company decided to go with a “Go Green” theme and seek inspirational photos that would renew the environmental spirit.

“We wanted photos that would capture people’s day-to-day efforts towards conserving the

environment,” said Fabio Moretti, Thunderbird Resorts’ chief operating officer. “More importantly, we want people to look at these photos and gain a stronger sense of custodianship over our planet.”

The contest had three categories: Awareness, Balance, and Commitment. Pictures depicting feasible, economical, energy-efficient, low-polluting, and sustainable technologies such as solar energy and wind power were grouped under the Awareness Category. Photos that highlight activities on the conservation of natural resources and waste management such as coastal clean-ups, tree-planting activities, and organic farming were placed under the Balance Category, while photos that focus on health, education, livelihood, and environmental responsibility programs for communities were classified under the Commitment Category.

Grand Prize winner Imee Antonio, who garnered the highest average among the entries, won the PhP 250,000 cash prize for her photo depicting two women creating bags out of recycled materials. Awareness Category winners Dewey Sergio, Ernie Penaredondo, and Jordan Madjus of the Awareness, Balance, and Commitment Categories captured equally captivating photos and won P50,000 each.

Judges were commercial photographer and Ad Congress awardee Francis Rivera, underwater photographer and Green Peace advocate Gutsy Tuazon, surfing lifestyle photographer Mark Dimalanta, former Business Development & Channel Manager of Kodak Philippines Edwin Hermoso, and project lead for Thunderbird Resorts' Efforts on Environment Sustainability Elaine Santillan.

Despite the decidedly technical theme, the number of participants grew and the organizers received impressive entries from amateur and professional photographers alike, thanks to the organizers’ partnership with the Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation and Caltex Philippines. Other partners include Western Digital, Digital Photographer Philippines, Pro Digital Image Works, iStyles, and Intel.

Winning entries will be on display at the Greenbelt 3 main lobby in Makati from January 27-30, 2011.

The winners will be recognized at the PhotoWorld Photographer’s Night on January 29, 2011 at the same venue.

To view complete list of winners and photos: http://www.thunderbird-asia.com/photocon_winner.html

Ready your camera this October - Thunderbird Resorts Express Your Art Photo Contest

Thunderbird Resorts Express Your Art Photo Contest is back!

On its second year, the photo contest takes on a green theme: Environment Sustainability.

So, ready your camera and your green cause!

Watch out for the formal launch on October 1, 2010.

Visit our website www.thunderbird-asia.com for updates and contest announcements.

(Teaser Announcement)